Titanic sails again at the Franklin Institute

It’s been 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic was publicized as one of history’s worst tragedies; so what draws people’s attention to it even in the 21st century?

On May 13, 1911, more than 100,000 people showed up to see the launching of the Titanic.

The ocean liner was still far from complete at this point, but people were able to see the enormous size of this ship.

On April 10, 1912, the Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, with Captain Edward J. Smith at the helm.

It was an auspicious moment because the Titanic was considered a marvel of modern engineering. But its maiden voyage turned into a horror and a tragedy.

During the media opening of “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” at the Franklin Institute, Mark Lach, the creative director of the exhibition, spoke about his experience in witnessing the grand Titanic.

Lach said that the exhibition is a “great mix of Hollywood and the real thing.” He said that one of the most powerful moments he could not forget was when he descended two miles under the deep ocean to see the Titanic right before his eyes.

Among the objects he salvaged from the doomed ocean liner were artifacts — little items that people brought onto the ship, including little vials of perfume.

There were 64 of them, and some of them still hold a scent.

“But to get the real thing, you see it when you see the actual artifacts. Its pieces of each person’s lives, he said.

As I was walking through the exhibit, I was amazed at how many artifacts were still intact and in good condition. The exhibition begins with the building of the Titanic and details regarding its fateful voyage.

The currency that the divers found is intriguing to look at because it’s spent a century at the bottom of the sea.

Visitors will be able to see the difference among accommodations for the first-class, second-class and third-class passengers.

The cost of first-class was $2,500, but in today’s money, it is approximately $40,000. B-deck (first-class but a little better) cost $4,500, but in today’s money, it is approximately $90,000.

One of the most incredible moments was walking through the halls passing each passenger’s room, as well as the grand staircase. They looked exactly like James Cameron’s record-setting movie.

Visitors will feel they are part of the Titanic experience.

They will also be able to touch the ice in the shape of an iceberg to feel how cold it must have been in the icy waters of the Atlantic.

In reference to the year the Titanic exhibit first saw light at the Franklin Institute, Mark Lach was asked, “What is so different from 2004 to now?”

He said, “The research done in 2010 was able to get digital 3D surface areas, so that people are able to see what happened.”

In the wake of the disaster, 705 people were saved, but 1,523 were lost.

Millvina Dean, the last survivor of the Titanic, recently passed away. This exhibition is dedicated to her.

IF YOU GO“Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” continues at the Franklin Institute, 222 N. 22nd St., Philadelphia, through April 7, 2013.